Amazon Prime Gains Major Exclusive With NBCUniversal Show Access

Ah, the war on conventional television networks rages on. With Netflix scooping up exclusive, Internet-first programs on a regular basis now, Amazon is doing its best to keep pace. After all, it has to give users even more reason to spend $79 on an annual Prime membership, right? This week, Amazon's streaming video service (Prime Instant Video) gained a major asset: exclusive subscription access to some highly sought after NBCUniversal programming.

The likes of Defiance, Grimm, Hannibal, Covert Affairs and Suits will soon join Amazon's streaming ranks, and if you want to watch them online, you'll have to use Amazon. No Netflix, no VUDU, no Hulu. Also as a part of the agreement with NBCUniversal, popular children’s shows including Curious George and Land Before Time will be available to customers with Kindle FreeTime Unlimited.

In addition, today’s announcement will add several fan-favorite shows to Prime Instant Video including NBC hit and Golden Globe nominated Smash, as well as Syfy drama series Alphas, Eureka and Warehouse 13. “We’re excited to expand our relationship with Amazon by adding great NBCUniversal content to Prime Instant Video,” said Frances Manfredi, President, NBCUniversal Cable & New Media Distribution. “With Amazon, we’re giving our established viewers a chance to catch-up on what they missed while simultaneously reaching and engaging new audiences who may not have seen these great series on their premiering networks.”

That's a pretty telling statement. They're essentially confessing that some folks in their target just aren't signed up to watch conventional television these days, and reaching them on the Internet is better than not reaching them at all. Best of all, these shows will be free to stream for Prime subscribers, at least for a while.